America was built on Christian principles

Whether we are a nation of Christians or a Christian nation is not the issue. The issue is when Christians become second-class citizens.

The same President John Adams that Mr. Shimabukuro mentions in “Your Voices” June 13, is the one who said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Which really is showing nowadays with an approval rating of 13 percent for Congress and 47 percent for the president.

The problem is a misconstrued statement by Thomas Jefferson called “separation of church and state,” none of which appears in the Constitution. Who also said: “God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis?”

The First Amendment is part of the Bill of Rights, which restricts the government, not the people. In this case, Congress is not to promote a particular religion or prohibit the free exercise thereof. Prayer is exercised by all religions and the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and expression, even for Christians.

Public property belongs to all citizens, including Christians. If it is used to display other things, shouldn’t Christians have the same right to display a cross?

May I suggest unplugging your ears and opening your eyes and re-reading both the First Amendment and Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 5 and 6, as literally intended? Jesus did not criticize those who prayed in public, only those that were praying like self-righteous hypocrites, to be seen by others. Why deny the obvious? The historical record is clear, America was built on Christian principles.